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Deviant Moon

The Deviant Moon Tarot deck is inspired by childhood dreams, and features moon-faced characters created by manipulating photographs of 18th century tombstones. This deck's surreal images, set against industrialized backgrounds, speak to the theme of duality — and sparks readers’ imaginations.

Deviant Moon Tarot deck preview:

From the U.S. Games Deviant Moon Tarot booklet:

From the U.S. Games Deviant Moon Tarot booklet:

The Deviant Moon Tarot deck was created using various forms of photographic manipulation. Each card began with a complete drawing, which was then scanned into the computer where I applied various photographic textures. Nineteenth-century tombstones provide most of the clothing worn by the citizens of the Deviant Moon. I bent, twisted, and reformed my photos to become capes, boots, hats and trim. One of the best aspects of creating the deck was “hunting” for specific textures as I respectfully tiptoed around the graveyards of eastern Long Island, New York. Background buildings were created with photographs I took of a local abandoned insane asylum. Rotted doors, windows and walls became castles, factories and cities.

My character stylization was influenced by ancient Greek art, yet I added a slightly abstracted twist. I chose to draw the figures in a flat, playing card style, rendering them with heavy light and shadows, then placing them in a shallow background.

As I worked, different styles emerged, and before long the characters evolved into the moon-faced beings seen in the cards. Symbolism for the deck comes from childhood dreams and imagination that carried itself into my adult world. I have always been intrigued with the melancholy side of life and have sought to express my visions through the characters I create. The moon has always been a psychic friend to me. As the sentinel of the night, it feeds my dreams and casts a strange glow on the way I see the colors of reality.

Nothing has had a greater influence over my art than the Tarot itself. I first discovered the Tarot at the age of nine. I was captivated by the unique characters I saw on each card and studied the artwork intensely. My favorites were the old 19th century and medieval decks. While my classmates were drawing what children normally do, I was busy making my own little pictures of the fool or the magician. Over the years, I have made many attempts to create my own deck, but never completed more than a few cards each time. I held the ideas of my early random creations and revitalized them here in the Deviant Moon Tarot.
While this physical deck has taken over three years to complete, from an inspirational standpoint, Deviant Moon Tarot has been at least thirty years in the making. It is not only a testament to my art, but a record of my life.